javascript - sort by the order of a second array

Question

Given:

var a1 = [{name:'Scott'}, {name:'John'}, {name:'Albert'}];
var sortOrder = ['John', 'Scott', 'Albert'];

How can I sort the first array (by property) based on the order specified in the second array.

// result: [{name:'John'}, {name:'Scott'}, {name:'Albert'}]

Thanks.

Patrick Hillert · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-07 10:36:04Z

7

a1.sort(function(a,b) {
  return (
    sortOrder.indexOf(a.name) < sortOrder.indexOf(b.name) ? -1 : 1
  );
});

Patrick Hillert

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answered Aug 13, 2010 at 0:11

sje397

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4 Comments

That was what I was in the middle of typing... +1

Only issue here is that IE doesn't support indexOf(), so you'll need to create an indexOf() function for it: stellapower.net/content/javascript-support-and-arrayindexof-ie

@Gert G: either that, or make IE work 'properly' using Chrome Frame ;)

It worked for me, but I have to changed to a1.sort(function(a,b) { return (sortOrder.indexOf(a.name) < sortOrder.indexOf(b.name) ) ? -1 : 1;});